Designing for Vibrations in the Laboratory

Hal Amick

Many processes involved in advanced technology applications are highly sensitive to vibrations. Among these processes are precision metrology, high-energy physics, long-beam-path laser applications, biotechnology research, and the R&D and production of semiconductors. When designing facilities housing this equipment, considerable attention is spent on the mechanical and structural aspects. In most cases, vibration control measures add significantly to the cost of construction.

This article discusses the following issues:
• Vibrations can alter readings
• What causes vibrations?
• Vibration criteria
• Velocity Criteria (VC) Curves
• Walking is the biggest problem
• What does this mean for future design?

LABoratory: Earl Walls Associates Quarterly Report, Fall 2001, Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 3-4.

Go to the paper: http://www.ewalab.com/pubs/issues/fall01.pdf